Delosperma plant named ‘W1811’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Delosperma  plant named ‘W1811’ that is characterized by its low growing plant habit, its very floriferous and long blooming flowering habit; blooming from early summer to early autumn, and its flowers that are vivid dark red in color with small yellow centers.

Botanical classification: Delosperma nubigenum.

Variety denomination: ‘W1811’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Community Plant VarietyOffice (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2021/1410 filed onJun. 1, 2021, under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which isincorporated by reference herein. This application is also co-pendingwith a U.S. Plant Patent Application for a plant derived from the samebreeding program entitled Delosperma Plant Named ‘W1813’ (U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 17/558,045).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDelosperma plant, botanically known as Delosperma nubigenum ‘W1811’ andwill be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘W1811’. The newcultivar of Delosperma is an evergreen perennial grown for container andlandscape use.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. Theoverall purpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars ofDelosperma plants with a unique range of flower colors.

‘W1811’ was selected in the Inventor's trial garden in May of 2018 as asingle unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived from crossesbetween unnamed and unpatented plants from the Inventor's breedingprogram. Seeds were pooled from the crosses and therefore the exactparentage is unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings in September of 2018 by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun,Okayama-Pref., Japan. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings hasdetermined the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes incombination distinguish ‘W1811’ as a unique cultivar of Delosperma.

-   -   1. ‘W1811’ exhibits a low growing plant habit.    -   2. ‘W1811’ exhibits a very floriferous and long blooming        flowering habit; blooming from early summer to early autumn.    -   3. ‘W1811’ exhibits flowers that are vivid dark red in color        with small yellow centers.

‘W1811’ can be most closely compared to the Delosperma cultivars‘WOWDAY2’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,645) and ‘W1813’. Both are similar to‘W1811’ in having low growing plant habits and floriferous and longblooming habits. ‘WOWDAY2’ differs from ‘W1811’ in having flowers thatare slightly smaller in size and orange-red in color with larger yellowcenters and in producing less flowers. ‘W1813’ differs from ‘W1811’ inhaving flowers that are bright orange-red in color with small yellowcenters.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date. Disclosures include but may not be limited towebsite listings by Concept Plants and Plantipp (both are the breeder'srepresentative for licensing), Globeplanter, and YouTube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new Delosperma. The plant in thephotographs is 6 months in age as grown in a 9-cm container in anunheated greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a top view of ‘W1811’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of‘W1811’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Delosperma.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 6 months-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown in 9-cm containers in an unheated greenhouse inNoordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmentalconditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015;reprint 2019 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms from early summer to early autumn in            The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Evergreen perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Flattened, prostrate.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches an average of 10 cm in height and            about 28 cm in diameter as grown in a 9-cm container and            reaches 10 to 15 cm in height and 70 to 80 cm in width in            the landscape.        -   Cold hardiness.—Observed to be hardy to at least U.S.D.A.            Zone 7.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous roots.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.        -   Root development.—8 weeks for root initiation, 4 months from            a plug to young plant in a P9 container.        -   Growth habit.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—Young stems; 145C upper side strongly tinged            with 182B, older stems 196C to 196D.        -   Stem size.—Lateral branches; an average of 11 cm in length            and 2.5 mm in diameter.        -   Internode length.—An average of 3 mm.        -   Stem substance.—Succulent.        -   Stem surface.—Moderately glossy, moderately pubescent with            very short glandular hairs; an average of 0.2 mm in length            and closest to 155C in color.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching both basal and lateral, an            average of 14 lateral branches per stem.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ligulate, triangular in diameter.        -   Leaf substance .—Succulent.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf venation.—No veins visible.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface (Upper and lower surface).—Slightly glossy,            sparsely to moderately pubescent with very short glandular            hairs; an average of 0.2 mm in length, 157D in color.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper and lower surface; 138B, mature            upper surface 137B and lower surface; 137C.        -   Leaf size.—About 2.5 cm in length and 3.5 mm in width.        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 12 (6 pairs) per lateral branch.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers solitary, terminal.        -   Flower number.—An average of 1 per lateral stem, per plant;            59 open flowers, 27 flower buds.        -   Flower fragrance.—Faint, sweet and pleasant.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward to upright.        -   Flower longevity.—A few days, self-cleaning.        -   Flower type.—Single.        -   Flower size.—Average of 3.3 cm in diameter and 1.3 cm in            depth.        -   Flower buds.—Broadly ovate to oblong in shape, an average of            1 cm in length and 5 mm in diameter, color; 138A with sepal            portion 145B.        -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, average of 5 mm in depth and 1.5 cm            in diameter.        -   Sepals.—5, rotate, ovate in shape, margin entire, an average            of 7 mm in length and 3 mm in width, broadly acute apex,            broadly cuneate base, surface is smooth and dull, color            young upper and lower surface; 138A, base 145B, color mature            upper and lower surface; 143B to 143C.        -   Petals.—An average of 48 per flower, rotate and slightly            curved downward, narrowly flowers that are vivid dark red in            color with small yellow centers oblanceolate in shape,            surface is smooth and glossy on both surfaces, margin            entire, apex obtuse, base cuneate, an average of 1.5 cm in            length and 1.5 mm in width, color; opening and fully open            flowers upper surface; N45A, center 14B, base NN155C,            opening and fully open flowers lower surface; 64B, center            and base NN155C.        -   Petaloids.—An average of 30 per flower, rotate and near            vertical surrounding stamens, lanceolate in shape,            moderately to highly glossy on both surfaces, margin entire,            apex obtuse, base truncate, an average of 5 mm in length and            0.75 mm in width, color immature and mature upper and lower            surface; NN155C, center to top 14B and N45A.        -   Peduncle.—Average of 1.5 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter,            straight on top of lateral branch at 0°, color; a blend            between 144B and 145C, surface moderately glossy, sparsely            to moderately pubescent with very short glandular hairs.        -   Pedicel.—None.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—5, an average of 2 mm in length, stigma; triangular            shaped, style and stigma; (not distinguishable) combined an            average of 2 mm in length and 151B in color, ovary; 143C in            color.        -   Stamens.—Average of 60, 12A in color, anthers; dorsifixed            and narrowly oblong in shape, an average of 0.5 mm in            diameter, filaments; 4 mm in length, NN155D in color,            anthers; NN155D in color, pollen; moderate to high in            quantity and 6A in color.        -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production was not observed under the            conditions tested.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Delosperma plant named‘W1811’ as described and illustrated herein.